Heavily electronica-based utilizing analog synths alongside tape machines, piano, strings and walls of ambient atmospherics, often focuses on the analog side of capturing and creating sound in the real world with physical hardware.
A rich and thick collage of anxiety and bliss
The work of James Adrian Brown, heavily electronica-based utilizing analog synths alongside tape machines, piano, strings and walls of ambient atmospherics, often focuses on the analog side of capturing and creating sound in the real world with physical hardware. Brown recorded the tracks at *ICP Studios in Belgium after crafting the demos in his own studio in the Yorkshire Dales where the compositions were tracked to his tape machines. It was decided by (Producer) James Mottershead they’d breathe new life and space into the tracks in a new environment/studio, which saw them head to Brussels to complete the recordings.
Brown found himself on a sold out air-flight with disgruntled passengers complaining of little to no space for their luggage.
Here we are. Right now, under your seat the space is dense with activity, building and veering strangely about as it breaks into dance, layers break into fields, suddenly there is a piano and a strange typewriter drum and the melody turns about. This is the first of two tracks, “There Is Space Under Your Seat” (3:09), a rich and thick collage of anxiety and bliss that from time to time bursts into a piano percussion dreamscape, every moment a delight, complex and satisfying because the whole world is down here, in slow motion, dark and hidden. Now the piano emerges with a melody that languishes and lingers, then things happen quickly for a short time. Eventually a short time expands and drones into the distance.
Perhaps this next track is not for dancing, social dancing, I mean, well, dance is something else. I don’t know what I mean. “Dreaming Deep Diver” (4:59), slower, floating, glowing, shimmering, the bridge has drones, lots of drones, until the whole thing is overturned and becomes something more horrifying. This is awesome!
James Adrian Brown is a British-born songwriter and former lead guitarist from the alternative rock band ‘Pulled Apart By Horses.’ After studying art for six years in Leeds (UK), Brown set up his own independent record label in the city and would soon begin carving out a career as a professional musician. After achieving chart success, touring the world and releasing four critically acclaimed studio albums with PABH, James has begun paving a pathway into the world of instrumental electronic music and composing.
He’s received support from the likes of Gideon Coe at BBC 6 music and also Chris Hawkins who championed him as creating ‘Massive electronic soundscapes in a Mogwai kind of world’. James was also featured on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Unclassified’ show by the show host Elizabeth Alker. Taking inspiration from influences such as Boards Of Canada, Rival Consoles, Floating Points & Thom Yorke. Brown is discovering, advancing, and pushing his songwriting into new sonic domains. The 7” is released as a deluxe red vinyl single with numbered photo/inserts selected and created by James. The single is issued in a limited edition of 200 copies.
There Is Space Under Your Seat is available on Castles In Space. [Bandcamp]
